1998 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia

Community Tasting Notes (73) Avg Score: 91.5 points

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  1/21/2024 - Tgood wrote: 96 Points

  Last of 6 pack at release - first 5 went fast - stashed last one at 55F for a quarter century and what comes out the other side is real beauty vindicating cellaring. The fresh florals billowing over cinnamon laced blackberry preserve sauce necessitates contemplation - anyone with stimulatory aural sense is going to find enormous appeal to its perfume. Lovely velvet mouthfeel with creamy tannic structure and focusing tartness - a complete wine. Bravo!

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  2/27/2023 - forceberry wrote: 86 Points

  100% Tinta de Toro from over 100 ungrafted, non-irrigated parcels aged between 70 and 100 yo located in the villages of Valdefinjas, Toro and El Pego. The fully destemmed fruit is cold-soaked with the skins for four days followed by a week of fermentation and maceration extending after the maceration for two to three weeks. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, bottled in June 2000. 14,5% alcohol.
  
  Quite translucent, somewhat pale and moderately evolved blood-red color with a brick-orange rim. The nose feels rich, brooding and quite sweet-toned with intense aromas of raisiny dark fruit and dried figs, some fragrant notes of dried flowers, a little bit of boozy alcohol, light evolved notes of savory meatiness and earth, a hint of vanilla, a touch of ripe dark plums and a whiff of dill. The wine feels rich, juicy and a bit soft on the palate with a noticeably full body and concentrated flavors of strawberries and cherry marmalade, some oaky notes of vanilla and cloves, a little bit of raisiny dark fruit, light notes of dill, a hint of prunes and an oxidative touch of beef jerky. The wine is moderately high in acidity with firm medium-plus tannins that slowly grow in grip, at the same time lending a slightly bitter counterpoint to the sweeter fruit flavors. The finish is ripe, sweet-toned and somewhat grippy with bold, evolved flavors of dried figs, some raisiny tones, a little bit of dill, light oaky notes of vanilla and cloves, a hint of strawberry jam and a touch of extracted woody bitterness. The high alcohol makes the wine end on a moderately warm note.
  
  I was surprised how this vintage was noticeably different from all the other vintages we tasted in the 2011-1998 Numanthia vertical. Virtually all the wines showed some oak influence, but in all other vintages the oak impact was quite toasty and dark-toned, lending a somewhat chocolatey mocha character to the wine. However, here the oaky tones were much more sweeter, lending notes of vanilla and cloves to the wine - along with nuances of dill - all characteristics completely absent in all the other vintages. The overall style here was relatively balanced (for a Numanthia) and the sense of development was perfectly appropriate for a 25-yo Tempranillo, ie. the wine didn't seem like prematurely evolved or too oxidized. However, I must say I didn't really like the more vanilla-dill-and-cloves character of this wine - I wonder if the oak aging regime or cooperage was in some way different in this vintage? Who knows. All in all, this was a decent wine at its peak. Can't say I was particularly thrilled, but at least the wine was pretty ok and completely drinkable - something that didn't apply to all vintages of Numanthia we tasted!

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  2/2/2023 - ssouth Likes this wine: 95 Points

  1998 Numanthia, Toro
  Alc 14.5%
  70-100 year old ungrafted Tempranillo vines
  Bought at release. I think this was the first year
  Not decanted
  Asian spices and vanilla on the nose
  Dark color
  Ripe and luscious with ripe plums and berry
  There is a roasted character to the palate
  Some oak but only as a “ condiment “
  Bold and wonderful at 25 years
  Finish is moderate
  Tannins are minimal
  At peak

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  2/1/2023 - CRub2868 Likes this wine: 94 Points

  I have had a six pack of these over the last few months and I am quite surprised as how well it has held up over time. Inky, a touch tannic but quite supple with a nice long finish. It looks like it has some years to go before it starts declining.

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  5/22/2022 - rm97 wrote: 93 Points

  Tannins still dominate but this is a lively food wine. Wait 5+ years?

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